Research Scientist/Engineer Assistant - Department of Global Health (Temporary)

Job Description

The Department of Global Health has an outstanding opportunity for Research Scientist/Engineer Assistant (Temporary) to join their team.

About this Opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Chlamydia Lab & Neisseria Reference Lab, the Research Scientist/Engineer Assistant is responsible for conducting culture-based surveillance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including species identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using standardized laboratory methods. They will also perform molecular detection and characterization of STI pathogens through PCR, sequencing, and automated diagnostic platforms. In addition, the candidate will support laboratory operations, quality assurance efforts, and collaborative activities to ensure accurate, efficient, and high-quality testing.

The UW Neisseria Reference Laboratory located at the Ninth and Jefferson Building on the Harborview Campus, has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist Assistant. The individual in this position will provide support for the Neisseria Reference Laboratory collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Washington State Public Health Laboratory, WA DOH, and STD Clinics in US cities, to monitor Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility trends in the United States; and to provide quality-assured data to inform CDC’s treatment recommendations for gonorrhea. The individual will also contribute to ongoing research aimed at enhancing diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections, investigating commensal bacteria as potential reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance transferable to Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and investigating the host-pathogen interactions underlying gonococcal infections.

The successful candidate will be highly responsible, meticulous, and very organized. Candidates should have acquired basic microbiology skills and should be interested in spending much of their time preparing antimicrobial-containing culture media for susceptibility testing, and be willing to learn and demonstrate competency in performing  bacterial antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Additionally, the candidate should be interested in learning molecular techniques for detection of STI pathogens and resistance determinants. Evidence of outstanding scholarship in microbiology and other science courses as an undergraduate is highly desirable.

The salary information provided below is for a full-time temporary position and will be 100% FTE Opportunity for 9- 12 months depending on the length of project.

Key Responsibilities

Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial resistance surveillance (80%)

• Conduct Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing by agar dilution and Etest following established protocols.

• Perform species confirmatory tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

• Participate in and support quality assessment and continuous laboratory improvement activities.

• Participate in lab meetings and network with coworkers and collaborators.

• General laboratory maintenance including cleaning of glassware, temperature logs/charts of laboratory equipment, preparing reagents and chemical solutions, freezer organization and inventory of isolates, shipment of specimens.

• Perform related duties as assigned.

Molecular detection and characterization of STI pathogens (20%)

• Molecular detection of STI pathogens using the fully automated Hologic Panther System.

• Purification of high molecular weight genomic DNA for Next Generation Sequencing.

• PCR and sequencing of PCR products for strain subtyping and characterization of antibiotic resistance determinants.

• Participate in diagnostic test validation and optimization of new test methods.

• Data processing and analysis using excel and bioinformatics software.

• Contribute data for use in publications or conference presentations.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology or other scientific field, e.g. Molecular Biology or Biochemistry, and less